Arts Cafe March - Listening to Place: Creating a Sound Portrait of Shrewsbury with Andrew Howe

For our March Arts Cafe, we’re delighted to welcome artist Andrew Howe, joined by artist/filmmaker Jill Impey and poet Jean Atkin, for an evening that explores place, memory and shared experience through sound, story and poetry.

Andrew will lead a relaxed talk inspired by the Hey! Earthlings! project: a multifaceted arts and heritage project in which people who have crossed borders worked with those offering welcome. The project was led by Participate Contemporary Artspace and funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund. He’ll share reflections and ideas for anyone curious about how similar multicultural projects might be shaped in their own communities, with pointers towards a toolkit guide where more details can be found.

The evening will also invite some audience participation. Together, we’ll create a collaborative sound portrait of Shrewsbury, sharing imagined sounds and memories of the town and what makes it feel like home. Expect conversation, listening and a chance to pause with a cup of tea.

Jean Atkin will read a selection of poems with opportunities for audience response, drawing on the spirit of Hey! Earthlings! and the idea of shared voices.

As always, Arts Cafe is about slowing down, being curious and spending time together in a welcoming, informal space. No experience needed, just come as you are.

Arts Cafe is a new monthly evening event bringing artists, makers and the wider public together in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

Some people may remember Arts Cafe as a much loved programme that ran in Shrewsbury years ago. We’ve long wanted to bring it back, and we’re excited to be relaunching it at English Bridge Studios as an artist led, community focused series.

Arts Cafe is a new monthly evening event bringing artists, makers and the wider public together in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

Some people may remember Arts Cafe as a much loved programme that ran in Shrewsbury years ago. We’ve long wanted to bring it back, and we’re excited to be relaunching it at English Bridge Studios as an artist led, community focused series.

Held on Tuesday evenings, Arts Cafe offers a chance to hear directly from artists about what they do, how they work, and what inspires them. Each session will feature an artist or maker sharing their practice through talks, demonstrations, informal discussions or hands on tasters. The format is intentionally flexible, encouraging conversation, curiosity and exchange rather than formal presentations.

Arts Cafe is open to everyone. Whether you’re an artist yourself, studying, thinking about getting back into making, or simply interested in creativity and culture, you’re very welcome. No prior knowledge needed, just curiosity and an interest in the arts.

We see this monthly event as a space for connection.

A place to meet others, share ideas, and feel part of a growing creative community in Shrewsbury and beyond.

Tickets £10

We’ve kept tickets affordable to make Arts Cafe accessible 🙌

Optional donations are welcome and help support the upkeep of the building, allowing us to continue running artist led events and care for this shared creative space into the future.

Parking is available nearby at Abbey Foregate car park.

Disabled access is possible by arrangement.

Interested in presenting?

We welcome expressions of interest from artists and makers who would like to take part in a future Arts Cafe. Formats can be informal and experimental, from talks and demonstrations to discussions or sharing work in progress.

Please get in touch via the studio website for more information.

Arts Cafe is open to everyone. Whether you’re an artist yourself, studying, thinking about getting back into making, or simply interested in creativity and culture, you’re very welcome. No prior knowledge needed, just curiosity and an interest in the arts.

We see this monthly event as a space for connection.

A place to meet others, share ideas, and feel part of a growing creative community in Shrewsbury and beyond.

Tickets £10

We’ve kept tickets affordable to make Arts Cafe accessible 🙌

Optional donations are welcome and help support the upkeep of the building, allowing us to continue running artist led events and care for this shared creative space into the future.

Parking is available nearby at Abbey Foregate car park.

Disabled access is possible by arrangement.

Interested in presenting?

We welcome expressions of interest from artists and makers who would like to take part in a future Arts Cafe. Formats can be informal and experimental, from talks and demonstrations to discussions or sharing work in progress.

Please get in touch via the studio website for more information.